ETCA will not endanger Sri Lankan IT sector - Harsha
February 19, 2016 05:43 pm
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva today refuted allegations that the proposed Economic and Technology Cooperative Agreement (ETCA) with India will not endanger the jobs of Sri Lankan IT professionals.
Addressing a media conference held at the Government Information Department, he said that the Indian IT professionals will not have a chance of opening up their businesses in Sri Lanka and to become threat to local IT professionals.
He pointed out that international service trade has four modes. Three of these modes of service trade, namely, cross border trade, consumption abroad and commercial person were already taking place in Sri Lanka’s IT sector, Dr. de Silva added.
The opposition to the agreement arises from the fear that it will allow the fourth mode of services trade, ‘presence of a natural person’. However, this is not discussed under the agreement, de Silva said. Therefore, Indian IT professionals will not be able to threaten Sri Lankan jobs, he maintained.
Source: Govt Info Dept.
